Six
Directions Set

The
Zuni define their world in terms of directions with their home and village and
its inhabitants in the "Middle Place" at the center of the world.
From there radiate the six directions - the four cardinal directions (North, South,
East West) and the Upper Dimension and the Lower Dimension.

The
home is guarded on each side by the animal guardian of each of the six
regions. Often a group of six fetishes representing the six directions are placed
in the home as a set to protect the home.

Mole
- The Protector of the Underworld and Crops, Awareness, Introspection

Some Zuni artists carve all six fetishes out of
one piece of stone  this is a very rare Six Directions set. Read
more about stones.

Another approach is
to carve one fetish, say the badger, larger and then to tie the other five
fetishes, carved in a smaller scale, to the badger.

A
more common grouping is a display of the six fetishes, all in approximately the
same scale, on a natural setting such as one made with rocks and wood.

Most Native American tribes use fetishes in one way or another
and many tribes carve fetishes. The southwestern tribes excel at stone, antler
and shell carvings and the Zuni is the most noted carvers of all the southwestern
tribes. Because of that Zuni fetishes are often very expensive. Very nice carvings
by Navajo carvers are available at more affordable prices. Therefore, we
have indicated all the information we have on each piece in each set. Some sets
are made up of all Zuni carvings, others are a combination of carvings
by Zuni and Navajo artists.

Once you
purchase a set, you can always replace one particular animal with a carving by
one of your other favorite artists.

We
hope that you find a Six Directions Setthat speaks out to you and
enhances your home and that you enjoy yours as much as we do ours.